Jagdeep Dhankhar on Monday stepped down as Vice President of India, citing health grounds and on the advice of doctors. He resigned hours after presiding over the Rajya Sabha’s first Monsoon session.
In his letter of resignation, Dhankhar thanked President Droupadi Murmu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and Union Cabinet of Ministers. He stated that he was proud to have been a part of the development of India as a global power economically and as a global entity.
Early Life and Education of Jagdeep Dhankar
Born on May 18, 1951, in Rajasthan’s Jhunjhunu district’s Kithana village, Jagdeep Dhankhar has traveled a long way, from Rajasthan’s Bar Council to the Vice President of India’s office.
He is married to Dr Sudesh Dhankhar and has one daughter, Kamna.
Dhankhar possesses an Honors degree in B.Sc. Physics from Jaipur’s Maharaja’s College. He also completed LLB from the University of Rajasthan in 1978-79.
Legal Career and Recognition
On November 10, 1979, Jagdeep Dhankhar was enrolled with the Bar Council of Rajasthan. He was appointed as a Senior Advocate by the High Court of Judicature for Rajasthan on March 27, 1990.
Ever since, he had been practicing mainly in the Supreme Court, specialising in litigations in the areas of Steel, Coal, Mining, and International Commercial Arbitration, and so on.
Dhankhar has appeared in different High Courts all over the nation. He was the most senior appointed Senior Advocate of the State until he took office as Governor of West Bengal in July 2019. He remained in the Governor’s office until July 2022.
Political Career: From Lok Sabha to Rajya Sabha
During his parliamentary career, Jagdeep Dhankhar stepped into politics when he was first elected to the 9th Lok Sabha from his home Jhunjhunu parliamentary constituency in 1989.
He was also a Union minister of state for parliamentary affairs during the Chandra Shekhar ministry between 1990 and 1991.
He was again elected to Rajasthan Legislative Assembly from Ajmer’s Kishangarh seat in 1993.
Dhankhar was also made a member of some important committees in the Lok Sabha and the Rajasthan assembly. As a matter of fact, as a Union minister he was also a part of a delegation as Deputy Leader of a Parliamentary Group to the European Parliament.
Interests and Affiliations
Jagdeep Dhankhar is reportedly interested in sports. He has been a President of the Rajasthan Olympic Association and the Rajasthan Tennis Association in the past.
Dhankhar is a life member at the Indian Law Institute. He is also an Indian Council of Arbitration, ICC Commission of Arbitration, and ICC Court of Arbitration member.
He has also been Chancellor (ex-officio) of Delhi University and Chancellor (ex-officio) of Punjab University.
